School closures

Jennette Arnold: What action is the Mayor taking to understand the effect of school closures on different groups of children and young people, and how will he support those children and young people who have been most affected?

The Mayor: There are huge concerns over the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and young people. An Institute for Fiscal Studies report shows thatschool closures have almost certainly increased educational inequalities. Pupils from better-off families are spending longer on home learning and the Education Endowment Foundation says progress over the past decade to reduce the attainment gap will be entirely reversed. We know that some groups of children and young people, including black Caribbean boys and white boys eligible for Free School Meal eligible boys, were already disadvantaged and I am very concerned that closures will make matters worse. UNICEF have also highlighted how essential school-based services such as immunisation, school feeding, and mental health and psychosocial support have been disrupted.
I am committed to supporting young Londoners, especially those who have been disproportionally impacted by the crisis. I am investing £2m into additional positive activities over the months ahead, including mental health and wellbeing support and educational catch-up. Drawing on good practice from my Stepping Stones secondary school transition programme, I have published advice for running summer schools to help prepare vulnerable pupils for a positive start in September http://www.london.gov.uk/summer-schools. My Getting Ahead London programme has been adapted to support school leaders overcome the challenges following closures, and it continues to make progress in supporting BAME teachers into leadership positions. It supports our priorities to raise attainment, through creating role models and helping teachers benefit from a network of experienced coaches.
Addressing the unequal impact of COVID-19 will continue to be a key priority for the London Recovery Board.

Digital Connectivity Across London

Navin Shah: The pandemic crisis has highlighted potential for remote working. In order to make this a seriously viable alternative London requires digital connectivity comparable to many other European cities. As highlighted in the London Assembly’s report (published by the Regeneration Committee) London’s economic productivity and international competitiveness face a significant threat in the form of poor digital connectivity. The capital is poorly served, suffering from ‘not-spots’, ‘digital deserts’ and a lack of fibre connections. What urgent and effective steps can you take to upgrade digital connectivity to enable home/remote working?

The Mayor: Throughout the pandemic, the GLA’s Connected London team has been working to resolve urgent issues including supporting boroughs with guidance to ensure that connectivity providers are able to safely maintain networks and deploy additional telecoms infrastructure utilising reductions in traffic levels and congestion. The team has also been working with providers to help unblock live issues such as access to public sector sites.
I am also working with partners to improve London’s broadband infrastructure. I have previously announced that the GLA is coordinating £34.9 million of funding from different sources to boost full fibre coverage across London. This will enable new connections to public sector sites in areas that suffer from poor connectivity, making these areas more commercially viable for further private investment.
As part of GLA’s recovery work, my team is working with London’s boroughs on allocating this funding to priority areas to reduce London’s not spots. We are using data from the telecoms regulator, Ofcom, to better understand the critical high density areas with poor connectivity in order to prioritise funding in these areas that need it the most.

Relationships and sex education

Jennette Arnold: In February, I was proud to propose a motion to the Assembly in support of LGBT+ inclusive relationships and sex education. However, in the context of COVID-19, the Government is allowing schools to delay introducing this new element of the curriculum for a year. This makes the Assembly’s call for you to provide strategic support even more crucial. Can you provide an update on how you will be supporting schools to deliver this crucial education even during these challenging times?

The Mayor: I was heartened to see the Assembly pass this motion, having written last year to the Secretary of State for Education and all London head teachers to express my full support for statutory LGBTQ+-inclusive relationships education.
On 9 July 2020, the Government updated its FAQs for Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education. These state that schools should start teaching the new curriculum in September 2020, and those not yet ready must start by the summer term in 2021.
My officers will liaise with schools and borough leads to understand their concerns regarding this and explore how we can support curriculum roll-out in London. I will also continue to take every opportunity to demonstrate my public support for LGBTQ+-inclusive relationships education.

Tutoring

Jennette Arnold: Thank you for your answer to question 2020/1876. Can you provide an update on the tutoring pilot? Will this scheme link in with the Government’s recently announced National Tutoring Service?

The Mayor: The Government has announced £350 million for the establishment of a National Tutoring Programme (NTP) which will run for the duration of the next academic year and give schools access to subsidised tutoring sessions and free coaches for their most disadvantaged pupils. The findings from the previously announced tutoring pilots launched in June by the Education Endowment Foundation, Sutton Trust, Impetus and Nesta will feed into the evidence underpinning this new programme. The NTP was created through a collaboration between the four charities, with support from the Department for Education and funders including KPMG Foundation.

April 2020 Tripartite Agreement between TfL, Bus Operators and Unite the Union

Keith Prince: Please provide me with copies of all documentation including the actual agreements, memorandums, emails, drafts, meeting minutes and handwritten notes pertaining to the Tripartite Agreement (“The Bus Industry and its People Working Together to Support London“) signed between TfL, Bus Operators and Unite the Union in April 2020.

The Mayor: The document entitled ‘’Bus Industry and its People Working Together to Support London’’ is a letter, rather than a formal agreement, in support of addressing concerns and issuing messages in a consistent way. I have attached this letter, which reflects the actual commitment. This was signed by Transport for London’s Director of Bus Operations, Unite the Union’s Regional Officer and the respective bus operator Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers, who circulated it to all bus drivers.
This commitment was signed by all parties on 5 April 2020. Since then additional safeguards have been introduced including adding making the driver’s cab more self-isolated and sealed, temporarily moving to middle door board to segregate customers from drivers, adding notices about social distancing on stops and vehicles, enhanced cleaning of frequently touched surfaces with the best anti-viral agents and making face masks available to staff if they want to wear them.

School exclusions (3)

Jennette Arnold: While I understand that school closures due to COVID-19 make it more challenging, I am sure you will agree with me that it is vital work continues to reach vulnerable young people via all available channels. Can you provide examples of how your team and/or partner organisations have adapted in order to keep providing vital services for young people at risk of school exclusion or who have already been excluded?

The Mayor: I completely agree that the well-being of vulnerable young people should be a priority as lockdown measures ease. Safe spaces and positive opportunities for those most at risk is key to this, that is why I am investing £2m in summer and autumn activities for young people.
This builds on my £45m Young Londoners Fund (YLF) which has benefited over 50,000 young people to date and includes projects focusing on pupils who are at risk of school exclusion or who have been excluded; as well as the support provided through the Violence Reduction Unit’s School Inclusion programme. Most projects have been able to continue working with young people over the past few months and have adapted their services. Examples from three YLF projects delivered by or in partnership with a Pupil Referral Unit are: Southwark’s Inclusive Learning Service which delivered online sessions and issued food vouchers; the School for Change project, delivered by Saffron Valley College, which has worked with young people and their families to help them access vital services and address their well-being needs; and Volunteer It Yourself which is supporting young people to acquire vocational skills and has amended their services to support participants virtually.